Father in custody; facing charges of kidnapping his son

EL CAJON  A 28-year-old man was being held without bail on Sunday after taking his 9-year-old son from the home of an adult couple entrusted with babysitting the boy.

According to El Cajon police, the suspect showed up at about 11 p.m. on Saturday at a residence on East Lexington Boulevard near South Anza Street where his son was staying.

The suspect does not have custody rights. When one of the babysitters tried to prevent him from taking away his son, the suspect pulled a gun and fired two shots before leaving with the boy, according to the report. Nobody was injured.

El Cajon police conducted an intensive search for the boy, assisted by the San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter, but initial attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.

Early Sunday, the suspect brought his son back to the mother’s residence unharmed, police said.

El Cajon officers took the suspect into custody. He faces charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, child cruelty, assault with a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm.